| Any
and all corrections to the following minutes will be made at the 01/08/04
Board of Selectmen's Meeting and are considered unapproved until then. Corrections
will be noted in the minutes of that meeting. MINUTES
- SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
DECEMBER 16th, 2003
NEWFANE TOWN OFFICE
PRESENT:
Selectmen: Piet van Loon, Priscilla Cotton, Gary Katz and Christopher
Williams
Absent: Gorty Baldwin
Also Present: Doris Knechtel, Administrative Assistant.
1. CALL TO
ORDER
The Special Meeting was called to order at 6:33 p.m. Chairman Piet van
Loon.
2. WORK ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2005 BUDGET
A. EXPENSES
G. Katz spoke again of the underlying philosophy of what he feels should
be the Board's guiding principles for budget considerations to level fund
with some modest increases for needs and what has to be done and with
potential cost of living increases for wages. A cent on the tax rate raises
between $14 - $15 thousand dollars. With the rising costs of education,
the town should be conservative with this budget according to G. Katz.
Board members continued to review the proposed budget, starting at the
bottom of page #5 on a line by line basis. There were discussions about
how some things may be managed differently at the Town Garage when a new
Road Foreman is hired. Areas discussed were the use of chains versus studded
snow tires; liquid chloride versus calcium chloride flakes in bags; motion
sensor lights versus having light on continuously; etcetera.
The area of requested appropriations was discussed at great length. Taxpayers
should have a choice rather than being mandated to pay for the services
through their taxes was the feeling of some Board members. The organizations
do serve the townspeople as indicated in their yearly reports. Motion
was made by G. Katz and seconded by P. Cotton to adopt a policy to level
fund all appropriations. Discussion: Appropriations should not be a burden
to all taxpayers, they should be a matter of choice. A representative
from the organizations should come and talk to the Board. Others felt
that if a policy is to be developed, it should be done in advance of the
budget process with public input. The matter should be listed as a Goal
and Objective for the next year's Board to develop a policy. Vote: Two
in favor, two opposed. Motion fails.
C. CAPITAL
For the Capital equipment needs, the schedule shows the 1999 - 550 one-ton
to be replaced for $38,000 and the 1990 4X4 Mack to be replaced. Some
felt that the one-ton would cost more than that. As far as the Mack, it
may be better to replace the body and sander with a side dump body and
not the entire vehicle as otherwise it is in good shape. It was also discussed
whether or not to purchase a backhoe at this time. There are about 5,000
plus hours on the machine. It appears that about 500 - 600 hours per year
are put on the machine. The Board will talk with the new Road Foreman
about his thoughts on the purchase.
B. REVENUES
The spread sheet has not yet been prepared.
The suggested numbers will be updated and other budget numbers will be
inserted to give a better overall idea of the final budget costs. There
will be further discussion of the budget at the December 18th meeting.
3. TO TRANSACT ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY COME LEGALLY COME BEFORE
THE NEWFANE SELECTBOARD
None
4. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by G. Katz and seconded by C. Williams to adjourn the
Special Meeting at 9:30 p.m. Unanimous.
Doris A. Knechtel
Administrative Assistant
Newfane Board of Selectmen
Posted: Newfane Town
Office, Newfane Store, Williamsville General Store, Williamsville Hall
and South Newfane General Store & Deli.
www.newfanevt.com |
